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Why Some Pets Remain Overweight

By Patty Khuly, VMD

As if it’s not already tough enough to discuss weight loss, veterinarians get treated to a range of excuses for why their pets are tipping the scales. Broaching the "o" subject is itself an adventure, one which is commonly met with defensive postures, nervous laughs or just plain disdain.

So you can appreciate what veterinarians are up against. Here are the top ten rejoinders to my appeals for weight loss in pets.

1. But she only eats this much!

Why is it so hard to understand that weight gain often has little to do with the total quantity of food? Come on, we all learned about calories in versus calories out in grade school, right? If you have to feed two kibbles a day because she sleeps 24/7, then that’s what you have to do. And make her move so she can earn another. (Disclaimer: obese cats require much more conservative weight loss regimens than the "two-kibble" approach.)

2. But he’s always hungry.

Many pets will always act hungry. It’s both learned behavior and instinctual for some. Imagine that your ancestors never knew where their food was coming from. Wouldn’t it be a great adaptation to be able to fill your stomach to the ripping point so you could survive on next to nothing for the next week?

3. But food is the only thing that makes him happy.

Yeah, because there’s something very bizarre about what you consider "happy."

4. She’ll starve.

Really? Let’s conduct an experiment ...

5. I can’t bear to know that she’s suffering from hunger.

I can promise you she’s suffering already. What would you prefer, constant joint pain, or physical comfort at half your "normal" calories?

6. He’s so old already.

Another way to say this would be, "I want him to live the rest of his life fat and happy." However, he wouldn’t seem so "old" if he weren’t prematurely diseased from his obesity.

7. He refuses to walk.

Yeah, I would too if I weighed that much. It’s a lame excuse (no pun intended). There’s always a plan for pain relief, dietary management, and gradual exercise introduction.

8. Whenever she loses weight, everyone tells me she’s too thin.

And when you lose weight everyone says you look great. So when did you start listening to your mother-in-law over your veterinarian, anyway?

9. It’s my family’s fault.

OK, you may not be the one gorging her on your left over ice cream, but her obesity is still your responsibility. Call a family meeting to discuss how Princess will be in constant pain and die an early death if everyone doesn’t cooperate.

Comments 1

I am a dog walker and also do some obedience training. My own two shelties are lean even though both are real chow hounds. My trick is keeping breakfast and dinner fairly small so that the "snacks" are part of their diet, and even more essential, LOADS of exercise. Most mornings we walk five miles and the younger dog (18 months) and I do evening training sessions most days of the week. (agility and obedience) My older dog, who is seven, also does obedience training and he sometimes gets one day off the five miles each week. We walk a good pace and include hills.

Some of the people I work with have trouble understanding that their dogs don't need huge bowls of kibble. One client, with a doxie/chi mix, did not seem to get that such a small dog did not need a full bowl of food especially when she was lying around all day. They worried when she did not eat, even though she was FAT. I still cannot quite get them to understand what proper portions are for this little girl but they did ramp up her walking program, which has improved her figure. I also walk a lab that was quite fat when I started with him, but with more vigorous exercise has lost a bit of weight.

Too much kibble (very concentrated source of calories) and too little exercise = a fat dog. It is no different for the humans who get little exercise and eat rich foods in generous portions. weight gain is inevitable unless you are one of the lucky naturally thin. I know that some experts say exercise is not particularly effective for weight loss but my experience with both people and dogs has show me that is not so. Obviously you still have to stick to reasonable portions, but you and your dog don't have to live on "starvation rations" if you and your dog get plenty of exercise.